Le Rallye

“Since 1955” reads the sign in this restaurant. And yes, le Rallye is something of an institution in Cote d’Ivoire, even before the country gained its independence. The spirit keeps something of that history; the black and white photos showing Abidjan in earlier days, the large terrace, tiles, arcades, fans, all harking back to former times. The restaurant has a real family feel, making it a home-from-home for the regulars who pass their days at the bar. The crowd has a good mix though; long-time expats, young NGO workers, tourists, businessmen and security agents. The menu has a decent variety with regular brassiere-style items as well as Ivorian specialities, all with a good quality-price ratio. The food isn’t pretentious but has an honest quality and the portions are generous (except perhaps the mozzarella salad). All served without delay and with a smile. Highlights on the menu include the meats and sauces, the superb balsamic salad dressing, poached eggs, pizzas and the bolognaise sauce. We also like the newspapers, the little shop for things like cigarettes and biscuits, and the atmosphere during live football matches, when games are projected onto the wall.